Children 'rescued', three Victorians arrested in alleged global child abuse ring bust

A child from Victoria is one of the four young people removed by authorities as part of the joint operation.

An Australian Federal Police spokesperson said US intelligence began uncovering suspicious activity in Australia in 2018 as part of a Homeland Security investigation into a website where users paid to access child abuse material.

The spokesperson said Australian police then partnered with international law enforcement, including investigators from Arizona, INTERPOL and EUROPOL, to share details of the website’s registered users.

Five Australian states and federal agents then launched the Australian-based Operation Walwa.

The Australian ambassador for US Homeland Security Investigations, Adam Parks, said the arrests came at a critical time.

“More so than ever, children are increasingly online for their schooling, to socialise with their friends and family, and to play games,” Mr Parks said.

“Let this be a warning that law enforcement is undeterred by COVID-19 and remains on duty to keep our children safe in Australia, the US, and online.”

Detective Acting Inspector Karen Bennett, of Victoria Police, said the effects these alleged crimes had on children, families and the wider community was devastating.

“These [alleged] crimes see people using significant established networks to share child abuse material and take advantage of vulnerable children. They have devastating impacts for victims and the wider community,” Inspector Bennett said.

“We will continue to develop and employ various investigative techniques which allow us to target people actively grooming and attempting to procure children, and accessing child abuse material.”

Of the four children removed from alleged harm, three were from NSW and one from Victoria.

Those charged were five people from Queensland, four from Western Australia, three each from NSW and Victoria and one from South Australia. The arrests have occurred during the past year.

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Assistant Commissioner at AFP Lesa Gale, who oversees the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), said the results were a timely reminder of the risks associated with children being online.

“This has been a long-running joint effort by law enforcement across Australia and we’re happy to see the results that can be achieved when resources are used together, particular in the current online environment,” she said.

The 61-year-old Echuca man has since been remanded in custody and is scheduled to reappear in court later this month.

The 41-year-old Kilmore man has been remanded to reappear in court in July. The 53-year-old Mount Waverley man has been released on bail.

Members of the public with information about people involved in the possession or sharing of child exploitation material are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.